He's a Jiu Jitsu and martial arts enthusiast. He's, apparently, with Gracie Barra Encinitas, a Jiu Jitsu academy. Here's a video of him fighting and wining a gold medal. FOR THE LAST 15 SECONDS OR SO, you can see his face, pretty similar to the one on the pictures we have of the racer:

He's a Jiu Jitsu and martial arts enthusiast. He's, apparently, with Gracie Barra Encinitas, a Jiu Jitsu academy. Here's a video of him fighting and wining a gold medal. FOR THE LAST 15 SECONDS OR SO, you can see his face, pretty similar to the one on the pictures we have of the racer:

I'm just gonna throw this out there. Something has been telling me or shorter guy on the green team could be a horse jockey. I have no evidence for it, but it doesn't hurt to take a look in that direction.

Ryan Danz has a degree in economics from UC Davis, and a law degree from California Western School of Law. He is the owner/founder of a financial service company in California.

Most interestingly, as a new law school graduate, Ryan was a contestant in NBC's reality show The Apprentice:Martha Stewart which aired in the fall of 2005 for a one season run. He was eliminated in Week 11, just prior to the final interviews and challenge. His appearance on TAR 21 may represent the first cross-over from a competing network's reality show.

His bio from that season:

Abbie Ginsberg is a dancer and choreographer. Originally from Seattle, she has a degree from the University of Washington in Fine Arts and Psychology with a minor in Art History. She additionally has a degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. She is a nationally recognized choreographer in 8-18 yr old modern,tap, lyrical and jazz dance. She currently works at the Carlsbad Dance Centre where she is a member of the Hall of Fame.

Both Ryan and Abbie are divorced, and are currently a "dating couple".

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I know, right? But based on everything we have so far, this looks like an attractive, strong and competitive team, so perhaps casting decided that an appearance 7 years ago in a short lived show was not a major issue. I have a feeling we are going to like this team! Anyone who can cheerfully do a Tide-to-Go skit dressed as a VIVIDLY orange spandex clad detergent action hero, on a major NYC thoroughfare, has to have a great sense of humor!

One more interesting bit of trivia:

From the Beekman reveal, I also found that Brent Ridge was the VP for Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia from June 2006 to August 2008. Which was less than 6 months after Ryan was a contestant. Small world, right? While it is unlikely that Ryan would be aware of that bit of history on meeting Brent, it is vaguely possible that Brent may have recognized Ryan. 2 Degrees of Separation!!

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RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

I did a little bit of googling, and I found that I did remember Ryan from his TA:MS season; not well, but I did remember having a favorable impression of him from that show. Martha used a lot of her company in setting up the tasks for her season, so it's possible Brent might have recognized Ryan more easily from that time than the other way around.

Of the teams, we've heard comments about the teams from "bystanders," it seems as if CBS has continued its recent trend of finding good, competitive teams and staying away from casting-induced melodrama. It may be premature to reach any conclusions until we learn more about all of thie teams, but it is a promising sign.

I'm just gonna throw this out there. Something has been telling me or shorter guy on the green team could be a horse jockey. I have no evidence for it, but it doesn't hurt to take a look in that direction.

If you're looking for a jockey, try looking into guys racing out of Northville Downs. It's the closest one to Ann Arbor.

It's not the type of jockeying you're thinking of though...I think all of the horseracing tracks around here are all harness racing.

Mark "Abba" Abbattista is as MAC said, an attorney and a music manager/producer.

He is listed as President at Abba-Cadaver Music LLC LocationBeverly Hills, California (Greater Los Angeles Area) ...although I believe he is originally from Colorado.

He is currently managing the band HAIL!, which is a cover band of rotating musicians who do worldwide tours featuring the classics of Heavy Metal music. James is the bass guitarist on many of the tours.

Here is a brief Interview with Mark from the Russian tour about why they love to tour and share their music: START at about 1:50

And...importantly for us, these guys are seriously well traveled. Their most recent tours includes a nine-city tour in Russia, coincidentally including Moscow, and a Turkey tour, including Istanbul, and other areas such as Brazil, Scandanavia, and Lebanon!

I am already loving their passion for their music and for travel!

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Now, that would make it 3 James (or Jaymes), so it would make it compulsory to use nicknames and set them apart. Perhaps Jay for one of the Chippendales? And... JLo (Wikipedia says that is his nickname) xD for LoMenzo? That would make them JLo and Abba? Wouldn't that be hilarious?

Now, that would make it 3 James (or Jaymes), so it would make it compulsory to use nicknames and set them apart. Perhaps Jay for one of the Chippendales? And... JLo (Wikipedia says that is his nickname) xD for LoMenzo? That would make them JLo and Abba? Wouldn't that be hilarious?

I think we're good without any nicknames. But thats just me. Jaymes/James are one team and adding another one in on a different team with long hair doesn't make it to hard to tell which one.

Awesome! GJ, macaroons! I thought the bearded guys would be more like hippies but they're probably gonna turn out to be badasses.

Hopefully, them and the biker couple don't go out one after the other.

Re: nicknames, I think it's only gonna work if people are willing to use them, or if someone establishes a nickname for the 3 Ja(y)mes and others follow. For me, I think I'll call them James, Ga(y)mes (I believe I got those two right), and Jamie from the Block.

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just dance~*~I don't understand the question, and I won't respond to it.

As far as the show goes, they've managed having three "Daves" one season on three different teams, and three "Steves" on another, so I think we'll manage with the two James and one Jaymes, especially since two of the three make up one of the teams.

Both recent grads of University of Texas. He had a very successful career as the Deep Snapper during his time at UT. Lexi was a member of the famed Pom Squad. They have been dating for several years. They are not engaged.